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To a Mouse

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930: 433: 456:, several allusions to the poem are made. The most notable is on p. 291, where a drawbridge man says to the fleeing Sirs Grummore and Palomides, "Wee sleekit, cow'ring timorous Beastie... Oh, what panic's in thy breastie!" 467:
stories and novels. Typically, a woman who has broken off her engagement uses it to describe her former lover, who has been ejected due to his cowardice. An example from
951: 105: 471:, Chapter 16 (Orlo Porter speaking): "Potty little lovers' quarrel my left eyeball. She called me a lily-livered poltroon. And a sleekit timorous cowering beastie." 956: 1544: 966: 961: 1463: 1457: 443:
sketch 'Word Association' references the first line of the poem, and replaces the simple word "We" with "Wee sleekit cowerin' timorous beastie".
785: 405:. Anderson adds the line "But a mouse is a mouse, for all that" at the end of the stanza, which is a reference to another of Burns's songs, " 1530: 890: 1506: 573: 1478: 1238: 529: 945: 699: 622: 1588: 1511: 1029: 862: 1218: 1468: 1593: 1516: 1483: 918: 428: 391: 1446: 1424: 841: 806: 1583: 1473: 1419: 1409: 1233: 1213: 1074: 113:
and accidentally destroyed a mouse's nest, which it needed to survive the winter. In fact, Burns's brother,
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series, mice are hyperintelligent pan-dimensional beings who are trying to find the Question to the
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also draws its title from this line, and so do the novel of the same name by Canadian author
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To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plough, November, 1785
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from a line contained in the penultimate stanza. The 1997 novel
109:. According to legend, Burns was ploughing in the fields at his 929: 677: 464: 664:, Paisley : A. Gardner, 1907. Fully annotated version of 401:
in the beginning of the 2007 remaster of "One Brown Mouse" by
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Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (Edinburgh Edition)
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The Poetical Works of Janet Little, The Scotch Milkmaid
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Ultimate Answer of Life, the Universe, and Everything
409:", commonly known as "A Man's a Man for A' That". 103:and all of the poet's later editions, such as the 459:The first line of the poem is frequently used by 1565: 577:. 9th ed. Vol. D. New York: W. W. Norton. Print. 1464:Robert Burns's Interleaved Scots Musical Museum 693: 322:Now you are turned out, for all your trouble, 1531:The Marriage of Robin Redbreast and the Wren 275:I doubt not, sometimes, that you may thieve; 668:, with historical background. pp. 9–20 210:Now thou's turn'd out, for a' thy trouble, 700: 686: 612: 574:The Norton Anthology of English Literature 290:Its feeble walls the winds are scattering! 1458:Robert Burns's Commonplace Book 1783–1785 637: 249:Little, crafty, cowering, timorous beast, 193:Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste, 169:What then? poor beastie, thou maun live! 167:I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve; 891:Oh, whistle and I'll come to you, my lad 397:The first stanza of the poem is read by 344:Still you are blessed, compared with me! 339:And leave us nothing but grief and pain, 283:I will get a blessing with what is left, 227:An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, 206:Thy wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble, 16:1785 Scots-language poem by Robert Burns 1507:Robert Burns's diamond point engravings 301:You saw the fields laid bare and empty, 182:It's silly wa's the win's are strewin! 162:At me, thy poor, earth-born companion, 141:Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie, 1566: 946:Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect 550:. Kilmarnock: John Wilson. p. 138 547:Poems, chiefly in the Scottish dialect 326:To endure the winter's sleety dribble, 318:That small heap of leaves and stubble, 270:At me, your poor, earth-born companion 257:I would be loath to run and chase you, 232:Still thou art blest, compar'd wi' me 223:The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men 214:To thole the winter's sleety dribble, 149:I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee, 681: 543: 446:In book 2, chapters 9, 11, and 13 of 335:The best-laid schemes of mice and men 277:What then? Poor beast, you must live! 184:An' naething, now, to big a new ane, 1512:Robert Burns and the Eglinton Estate 1030:Robert Burns and the Eglinton Estate 292:And nothing now, to build a new one, 863:Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation 296:And bleak December's winds ensuing, 251:Oh, what a panic is in your breast! 219:But, Mousie, thou art no thy-lane, 208:Has cost thee mony a weary nibble! 201:Till crash! the cruel coulter past 197:An' cozie here, beneath the blast, 188:An' bleak December's winds ensuin, 143:O, what a pannic's in thy breastie! 13: 615:L'Art de l'héraldique au Moyen Âge 236:But, Och! I backward cast my e'e. 221:In proving foresight may be vain; 180:Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin! 156:Has broken nature's social union, 145:Thou need na start awa sae hasty, 14: 1605: 671:Text of the poem can be found at 658:McGown, George William Thompson. 652: 524: 506: 370:took the title of his 1937 novel 362: 352:And forward, though I cannot see, 333:In proving foresight may be vain: 320:Has cost you many a weary nibble! 305:And cozy here, beneath the blast, 279:An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves 264:Has broken Nature's social union, 175:I'll get a blessin wi' the lave, 928: 707: 600:"Monty Python: Word Association" 253:You need not start away so hasty 234:The present only toucheth thee: 158:An' justifies that ill opinion, 154:I'm truly sorry man's dominion, 1517:Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 429:Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy 348:But oh! I backward cast my eye, 288:Your small house, too, in ruin! 240:An' forward, tho' I canna see, 631: 606: 592: 580: 562: 537: 518: 500: 266:And justifies that ill opinion 262:I'm truly sorry man's dominion 1: 1420:Robert Burns World Federation 1234:Alexander Cunningham (lawyer) 493: 478:'s song Living My Best Life. 419:" also references this poem. 346:The present only touches you: 331:But Mouse, you are not alone, 303:And weary winter coming fast, 195:An' weary winter comin fast, 1552:A Manual of Religious Belief 1538:The Merry Muses of Caledonia 617:. Paris: éditions du Seuil. 7: 1589:Mice and rats in literature 1010:The Hermitage, Friars Carse 842:My Heart's in the Highlands 807:The Cotter's Saturday Night 613:Pastoureau, Michel (2009). 481: 474:The poem was alluded to in 407:Is There for Honest Poverty 171:A daimen icker in a thrave 120: 10: 1610: 1410:Bachelors' Club, Tarbolton 1523:The Loves of Robert Burns 1392: 1156: 1043: 977: 937: 926: 919:A Man's A Man for A' That 715: 324:Without house or holding, 298:Both bitter and piercing! 160:Which makes thee startle 99:. It was included in the 70: 60: 50: 40: 30: 23: 814:The Battle of Sherramuir 449:The Once and Future King 294:Of coarse green foliage! 126:Side by side comparison 1405:Glenriddell Manuscripts 1269:Robert Graham of Fintry 1075:Elizabeth 'Betty' Burns 752:Epitaph for James Smith 415:'s poem "Sleekit Cowrin 268:Which makes you startle 255:With bickering prattle! 199:Thou thought to dwell- 1594:Poetry by Robert Burns 1299:Jean Lorimer (Chloris) 821:The Birks of Aberfeldy 602:. www.montypython.net. 544:Burns, Robert (1786). 315:Out through your cell. 309:Till crash! The cruel 259:With murdering paddle! 147:Wi' bickering brattle! 1179:John Bacon (landlord) 1081:James Glencairn Burns 1063:Francis Wallace Burns 786:The Kilmarnock volume 738:Man Was Made to Mourn 644:. Simon and Schuster. 307:You thought to dwell, 190:Baith snell an' keen! 151:Wi' murd'ring pattle! 1584:Scots-language works 1425:Bust of Robert Burns 870:Ye Jacobites by Name 773:Holy Willie's Prayer 724:Comin' Thro' the Rye 589:Includes annotations 350:On prospects dreary! 328:And hoar-frost cold! 238:On prospects drear! 216:An' cranreuch cauld! 134:English translation 1254:Alexander Findlater 1069:William Nicol Burns 1057:Robert Burns Junior 800:To a Mountain Daisy 745:Address to the Deil 569:Greenblatt, Stephen 379:The Best Laid Plans 354:I guess and fear! 281:Is a small request; 212:But house or hald, 203:Out thro' thy cell. 173:'S a sma' request; 131:The original Scots 127: 1077:(natural daughter) 884:The Slave's Lament 638:Wodehouse (1974). 285:And never miss it. 272:And fellow mortal! 242:I guess an' fear! 164:An' fellow-mortal! 125: 1579:1780s in Scotland 1561: 1560: 1219:Margaret Chalmers 1015:Irvine Burns Club 914:" (revised, 1794) 661:A Primer of Burns 624:978-2-02-098984-8 360: 359: 341:For promised joy! 229:For promis'd joy! 177:An' never miss't! 101:Kilmarnock volume 78: 77: 1601: 1400:The Geddes Burns 1374:Robert Tannahill 1284:Nelly Kilpatrick 1249:Robert Fergusson 1194:Thomas Blacklock 1137:(brother-in-law) 932: 702: 695: 688: 679: 678: 646: 645: 635: 629: 628: 610: 604: 603: 596: 590: 584: 578: 566: 560: 559: 557: 555: 541: 535: 533: 522: 516: 515: 504: 418: 225:Gang aft agley, 186:O' foggage green 128: 124: 71:Publication date 36: 26: 21: 20: 1609: 1608: 1604: 1603: 1602: 1600: 1599: 1598: 1564: 1563: 1562: 1557: 1388: 1344:Elizabeth Paton 1324:William Maxwell 1314:Agnes Maclehose 1229:Alison Cockburn 1184:John Ballantine 1152: 1143:(father-in-law) 1111:Annabella Burns 1039: 1035:Writers' Museum 973: 933: 924: 905:A Red, Red Rose 828:The Holy Tulzie 731:John Barleycorn 711: 706: 655: 650: 649: 641:The Cat-Nappers 636: 632: 625: 611: 607: 598: 597: 593: 585: 581: 567: 563: 553: 551: 542: 538: 523: 519: 505: 501: 496: 484: 469:The Cat-Nappers 461:P. G. Wodehouse 416: 373:Of Mice and Men 365: 356: 353: 351: 349: 347: 345: 343: 342: 340: 338: 336: 334: 332: 330: 329: 327: 325: 323: 321: 319: 317: 316: 314: 308: 306: 304: 302: 300: 299: 297: 295: 293: 291: 289: 287: 286: 284: 282: 280: 278: 276: 274: 273: 271: 269: 267: 265: 263: 261: 260: 258: 256: 254: 252: 250: 244: 241: 239: 237: 235: 233: 231: 230: 228: 226: 224: 222: 220: 218: 217: 215: 213: 211: 209: 207: 205: 204: 202: 200: 198: 196: 194: 192: 191: 189: 187: 185: 183: 181: 179: 178: 176: 174: 172: 170: 168: 166: 165: 163: 161: 159: 157: 155: 153: 152: 150: 148: 146: 144: 142: 123: 31: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1607: 1597: 1596: 1591: 1586: 1581: 1576: 1559: 1558: 1556: 1555: 1548: 1541: 1534: 1527: 1519: 1514: 1509: 1504: 1496: 1488: 1487: 1486: 1481: 1476: 1471: 1466: 1461: 1454: 1444: 1439: 1438: 1437: 1432: 1422: 1417: 1412: 1407: 1402: 1396: 1394: 1390: 1389: 1387: 1386: 1384:Edward Whigham 1381: 1379:Peggy Thompson 1376: 1371: 1369:Alexander Tait 1366: 1361: 1356: 1351: 1346: 1341: 1336: 1331: 1326: 1321: 1316: 1311: 1309:John MacKenzie 1306: 1301: 1296: 1291: 1286: 1281: 1276: 1274:Gavin Hamilton 1271: 1266: 1261: 1256: 1251: 1246: 1244:Frances Dunlop 1241: 1239:Lord Glencairn 1236: 1231: 1226: 1221: 1216: 1211: 1206: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1186: 1181: 1176: 1171: 1169:Robert Ainslie 1166: 1160: 1158: 1154: 1153: 1151: 1150: 1144: 1138: 1132: 1129:Isabella Burns 1126: 1120: 1114: 1108: 1102: 1096: 1093:William Burnes 1090: 1084: 1078: 1072: 1066: 1060: 1054: 1047: 1045: 1041: 1040: 1038: 1037: 1032: 1027: 1022: 1017: 1012: 1007: 1002: 1000:Ellisland Farm 997: 992: 987: 981: 979: 975: 974: 972: 971: 970: 969: 964: 962:Dublin Variant 959: 954: 941: 939: 935: 934: 927: 925: 923: 922: 915: 908: 901: 894: 887: 880: 873: 866: 859: 852: 849:Tam o' Shanter 845: 838: 835:Auld Lang Syne 831: 824: 817: 810: 803: 796: 789: 783: 776: 769: 762: 755: 748: 741: 734: 727: 719: 717: 713: 712: 705: 704: 697: 690: 682: 676: 675: 673:76. To a Mouse 669: 654: 653:External links 651: 648: 647: 630: 623: 605: 591: 579: 571:, ed. (2012). 561: 536: 517: 498: 497: 495: 492: 491: 490: 483: 480: 384:Sidney Sheldon 368:John Steinbeck 364: 363:In other media 361: 358: 357: 247: 245: 139: 136: 135: 132: 122: 119: 86:Scots-language 76: 75: 74:November, 1785 72: 68: 67: 64: 58: 57: 52: 48: 47: 42: 38: 37: 28: 27: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1606: 1595: 1592: 1590: 1587: 1585: 1582: 1580: 1577: 1575: 1572: 1571: 1569: 1554: 1553: 1549: 1547: 1546: 1542: 1539: 1535: 1532: 1528: 1525: 1524: 1520: 1518: 1515: 1513: 1510: 1508: 1505: 1503: 1501: 1497: 1495: 1493: 1489: 1485: 1482: 1480: 1477: 1475: 1472: 1470: 1467: 1465: 1462: 1460: 1459: 1455: 1453: 1450: 1449: 1448: 1445: 1443: 1440: 1436: 1433: 1431: 1428: 1427: 1426: 1423: 1421: 1418: 1416: 1413: 1411: 1408: 1406: 1403: 1401: 1398: 1397: 1395: 1391: 1385: 1382: 1380: 1377: 1375: 1372: 1370: 1367: 1365: 1362: 1360: 1357: 1355: 1352: 1350: 1349:John Richmond 1347: 1345: 1342: 1340: 1337: 1335: 1334:William Nicol 1332: 1330: 1327: 1325: 1322: 1320: 1317: 1315: 1312: 1310: 1307: 1305: 1302: 1300: 1297: 1295: 1292: 1290: 1287: 1285: 1282: 1280: 1277: 1275: 1272: 1270: 1267: 1265: 1262: 1260: 1257: 1255: 1252: 1250: 1247: 1245: 1242: 1240: 1237: 1235: 1232: 1230: 1227: 1225: 1222: 1220: 1217: 1215: 1214:Mary Campbell 1212: 1210: 1207: 1205: 1204:Richard Brown 1202: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1189:Alison Begbie 1187: 1185: 1182: 1180: 1177: 1175: 1174:John Anderson 1172: 1170: 1167: 1165: 1162: 1161: 1159: 1155: 1148: 1147:Robert Burnes 1145: 1142: 1139: 1136: 1133: 1130: 1127: 1124: 1121: 1118: 1117:William Burns 1115: 1112: 1109: 1106: 1103: 1100: 1099:Gilbert Burns 1097: 1094: 1091: 1088: 1085: 1082: 1079: 1076: 1073: 1070: 1067: 1064: 1061: 1058: 1055: 1052: 1049: 1048: 1046: 1042: 1036: 1033: 1031: 1028: 1026: 1025:Mossgiel Farm 1023: 1021: 1018: 1016: 1013: 1011: 1008: 1006: 1003: 1001: 998: 996: 995:Drukken Steps 993: 991: 990:Burns Cottage 988: 986: 985:Brownhill Inn 983: 982: 980: 976: 968: 965: 963: 960: 958: 955: 953: 950: 949: 948: 947: 943: 942: 940: 936: 931: 920: 916: 913: 912:Ca' the yowes 909: 906: 902: 899: 898:Scots Wha Hae 895: 892: 888: 885: 881: 878: 874: 871: 867: 864: 860: 857: 853: 850: 846: 843: 839: 836: 832: 829: 825: 822: 818: 815: 811: 808: 804: 801: 797: 794: 790: 787: 784: 781: 777: 774: 770: 767: 766:Handsome Nell 763: 760: 756: 753: 749: 746: 742: 739: 735: 732: 728: 725: 721: 720: 718: 714: 710: 703: 698: 696: 691: 689: 684: 683: 680: 674: 670: 667: 663: 662: 657: 656: 643: 642: 634: 626: 620: 616: 609: 601: 595: 588: 587:Burns Country 583: 576: 575: 570: 565: 549: 548: 540: 531: 527: 526:Burns, Robert 521: 513: 509: 508:Burns, Robert 503: 499: 489: 486: 485: 479: 477: 472: 470: 466: 462: 457: 455: 451: 450: 444: 442: 437: 435: 431: 430: 425: 424:Douglas Adams 420: 414: 410: 408: 404: 400: 395: 394:based on it. 393: 389: 385: 381: 380: 375: 374: 369: 355: 312: 246: 243: 138: 137: 133: 130: 129: 118: 116: 112: 111:Mossgiel Farm 108: 107: 102: 98: 94: 90: 87: 83: 73: 69: 65: 63: 59: 56: 53: 49: 46: 43: 39: 35: 29: 22: 19: 1550: 1543: 1521: 1500:Robert Burns 1499: 1492:Robert Burns 1491: 1456: 1442:Burns supper 1359:David Sillar 1329:John Murdoch 1319:John McMurdo 1294:Janet Little 1279:Helen Hyslop 1259:Jean Gardner 1164:Robert Aiken 1141:James Armour 1005:Friars Carse 944: 856:Ae Fond Kiss 779: 709:Robert Burns 665: 660: 639: 633: 614: 608: 594: 582: 572: 564: 552:. Retrieved 546: 539: 520: 502: 473: 458: 447: 445: 441:Monty Python 438: 427: 421: 411: 399:Ian Anderson 396: 388:Terry Fallis 377: 371: 366: 337:Go oft awry, 248: 140: 104: 93:Robert Burns 81: 79: 62:Rhyme scheme 34:Robert Burns 18: 1526:(1930 film) 1494:(Stevenson) 1415:Burns Clubs 1354:James Smith 1304:James McKie 1289:John Lewars 1264:Jean Glover 1209:May Cameron 1199:Nelly Blair 1135:Adam Armour 1105:Agnes Burns 1087:Agnes Broun 1051:Jean Armour 1020:Millmannoch 877:Sweet Afton 554:13 February 454:T. H. White 413:Sharon Olds 403:Jethro Tull 392:film series 91:written by 1574:1785 poems 1568:Categories 1452:Kilmarnock 1224:Jenny Clow 1123:John Burns 793:To a Louse 780:To a Mouse 666:To a Mouse 494:References 488:To a Louse 476:Ben Rector 25:To A Mouse 1447:Memorials 1364:John Syme 1339:Anna Park 1125:(brother) 1119:(brother) 1101:(brother) 952:Edinburgh 759:Halloween 1502:(Steell) 1469:Montreal 1131:(sister) 1113:(sister) 1107:(sister) 1095:(father) 1089:(mother) 921:" (1795) 907:" (1794) 900:" (1793) 893:" (1793) 886:" (1792) 879:" (1791) 872:" (1791) 865:" (1791) 858:" (1791) 851:" (1790) 844:" (1789) 837:" (1788) 830:" (1784) 823:" (1787) 816:" (1787) 809:" (1786) 802:" (1786) 795:" (1786) 782:" (1785) 775:" (1785) 768:" (1774) 761:" (1785) 754:" (1785) 747:" (1785) 740:" (1784) 733:" (1782) 726:" (1782) 482:See also 390:and the 121:The poem 51:Language 45:Scotland 1435:Atlanta 1393:Related 1149:(uncle) 957:Belfast 463:in his 311:coulter 115:Gilbert 84:" is a 41:Country 1484:Boston 1479:Albany 1430:Irvine 1157:People 1053:(wife) 1044:Family 978:Places 967:London 788:(1786) 621:  465:Jeeves 313:passed 66:AAABAB 1474:Barre 1083:(son) 1071:(son) 1065:(son) 1059:(son) 938:Books 716:Poems 55:Scots 619:ISBN 556:2014 439:The 97:1785 89:poem 452:by 426:'s 422:In 382:by 95:in 32:by 1570:: 528:. 510:. 1540:" 1536:" 1533:" 1529:" 917:" 910:" 903:" 896:" 889:" 882:" 875:" 868:" 861:" 854:" 847:" 840:" 833:" 826:" 819:" 812:" 805:" 798:" 791:" 778:" 771:" 764:" 757:" 750:" 743:" 736:" 729:" 722:" 701:e 694:t 687:v 627:. 558:. 534:. 532:. 514:. 417:' 80:"

Index

Robert Burns
Scotland
Scots
Rhyme scheme
Scots-language
poem
Robert Burns
1785
Kilmarnock volume
Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (Edinburgh Edition)
Mossgiel Farm
Gilbert
coulter
John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men
The Best Laid Plans
Sidney Sheldon
Terry Fallis
film series
Ian Anderson
Jethro Tull
Is There for Honest Poverty
Sharon Olds
Douglas Adams
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Ultimate Answer of Life, the Universe, and Everything
Monty Python
The Once and Future King
T. H. White
P. G. Wodehouse

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